The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-31
RAPPAPORT, THE SOCIALIST
lie Is Asked Many Questions Regarding
His Life and His Sentiments.
Has Advocated Their Methods
Days News Of the Courts.

HALF OF the persons who wanted to hear the
testimony IN the Rappaport- Sentinel libel suit
on trial before Squire Feiblemau, were unable
tofget inside the little courtroom, yesterday.
The crowd was composed almost exclusively of
laboring men, believers in Rapraports socialis-
tic doctrine. who were anxious to render their
leader any assistance possible in the presenta-
ton OF the charge against the Sentinel.
The case was resumed by the introduction OF
additional testimony from those who were pres
ent at the Sunday afternoon meeting, discredit-
ing the Sentinel's report of the Rappaport
speech. Among the persons who offered such
testimony, were Mrs. Mary Ellis. Henry Kloss-
man. w. c. Johnson, Paul JACKIE, the organ
lzer for the Socialists. Paul Erie. and Henry
hierst- Mr.. Kierst is the financial secretary of
the local socalistc society, and both he and
Mr. JACKIE, the organizer. were rigidly cross-ex.
amined. Like Mr.. Rappaport they maintained
that there is great difference between An
archist and Socialist. Mr.. Kierst held that
the only anarchistic sentiments that ut
tered at the meeting were by w. T. Mahorney,
colored man. He said according to the wit
ness that the Anarchists were the John Browns
OF the present day, and that their execution
meant the ultimate freedom of the laboring
men.
Mr.. Rappaport was recalled to the stapd and
requested to give the exact sentiment of his
speech at the meeting. He said that he took for
his text editorial which appeared in the
journal, relating to the condition of working
men, and in commenting on it, said that if ths
lhformation furnished by the editorial was true,
.aen even revolution and even anarchy was just.
However, he maintained IN his speech that
such condition of affairs existed as set forth in
the editorial, and therefore held that there was
no cause for revolution anarchy.
When the called in the afternoon,
ex-Prosecutor Newt Harding appeared in the
case additional attorney for the defense.
For the purpose of proving by Mr.. Rappaport
himself that he Is an Anarchist, he again
recalled to the witness-stand, and was subjected
to a very searching examination that occupied
the entire afternoon. His past life reviewed,
and all his relations with the hanged Chicago
Anarchists was gone over again, without devel-
oping anything of special interest. Finally,
Mr. Harding asked:
'Do you believe in a Godl"
II decline to answer" was the reply. "If you
intend to resort to the tactics that were followed
by the attorneys OF New York in the trial of
Mr. Most, tell you now that will not answer
your questions"
'lf you want to follow the course of the New
York Anarchist you need not answer" was Mr..
Harding's reply.
The justice held that the witness need not
An effort made to prove that the witness
was compelled to leave Cincinnati account Of
his radical views. but the witness declined to
answer, and the court held that the evidence
was not competent
Next the witness was asked if he did not say
to a reporter of the Journal. on the Sunday be-
regarding the hanging OF the men were we'll
known; that he bad expressed them in an inter-
view in the Journal about the time of the
viction, and that he did not care to again speak
publicly of the affair. but did add that he
garded the hanging of the men the greatest
crime of modern times. The attorneys for the
bsas s's and took the
that the defense not intro
during legitimate e-idence. They held that
there were but two lines of defense; one was to
EhalOuS IL
lished, and the other wss'that the sentiment ex-
pressed in it was used by the plaintiff on the oc-
denee was admissible and Mr.. Rappaport stated
that he was quoted correctly by the Journal re-
porter. "But. your Honor" continued he. II
want to know If this court is going to hold that
because a condemned the hanging OF the
Anarchists, he is to be considered an Anarchist
himselfl These defendants will, no doubt, in
vestigate my paper on that subject l court an
investigation. Ny paper is full Of condemnation
of the hanging of the men. I regard it as ju-
dical murder. studied the case carefully.
procured the entire court brief, and read il
through. / do not believe the men were guilty
of the crime they were charged with They were
charged with murder and hanged Anarchists.
There are thousands of men all over
the country. great and able lawyers, who
have sympathy with anarchy. and yet they
believe the hanging was judicial murder as d."
Here the Mr.. Rappaport offered to read the
opinions of prominent members of the Chicago
bar, coinciding with his view, but the court In
terrupted him by telling him it was not neces-
sary
II want you to understand" said the justice,
s'that simply because a man believed the hang
ing of the Anarchists was judicial murder, he
can not be classed as an Anarchist himself"
The question again came I'D as 30 whether or
not the defense had the right TO prove that the
plaintiff was an Anarchist. Mr.. Harding held
that If it was proved that he was Anarchist
there was no libel in the article, and tho court
SO held.
Have you rot on frequent occasions during
the last year uttered anarchistic sentimentsl'
Was aked the witness.
II never did utter such sentiments" was
the reply.
That closed the examination OF the witness,
and the case was continued until next Wednes-
day